Prostate cancer decisions — 2016

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and SMC was denied. The Board found that the residuals of prostate cancer did not meet criteria for a compensable rating prior to November 17, 2011, or in excess of 10 percent thereafter. Additionally, there is no evidence of loss of use of a creative organ.

The Board has determined that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides during his service in Thailand and therefore, prostate cancer is presumed to have been incurred in service. The claim for service connection for prostate cancer is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for vision problems/bilateral eye disability, prostate cancer, bladder disability, and blood clots as there was no evidence to support a direct relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining outstanding treatment records and scheduling a VA examination. The claims of entitlement to service connection for prostate cancer and an initial evaluation in excess of 50 percent for PTSD will be reconsidered.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to scheduling issues and the need for a Travel Board hearing. The specific conditions of prostate cancer, bronchitis, diabetes mellitus, hepatitis C, and bilateral glaucoma are still under consideration.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed conditions did not manifest during service or within one year thereafter, and any current conditions are not otherwise etiologically related to such service. Therefore, service connection was denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding the Veteran's prostate cancer and determining if he was exposed to herbicides in Vietnam. The claim will be reconsidered based on this additional evidence.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to August 22, 2006, for the grant of service connection for prostate cancer is dismissed as there is no legal basis for such a claim.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial evaluation for prostate cancer residuals is being remanded due to the need to obtain medical records and conduct a new examination.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional VA examination and private treatment records, as well as potential adjustment of his rating based on new evidence or symptom changes.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of prostate cancer are already assigned the maximum schedular rating available, and there is no evidence of additional disability warranting a higher evaluation.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete development and additional information is needed from various sources. The Veteran's exposure history, including potential Agent Orange exposure, will be investigated further.

The Veteran's prostate cancer was not shown in service and is not otherwise related to his active service. The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple issues related to his prostate cancer, hearing loss, tinnitus, erectile dysfunction, sleep disorder, arthritis, left knee condition, and acquired psychiatric disorder. The Board has remanded the case for additional development.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for prostate cancer and granted it, finding that new evidence supports a reopening of the claim and establishing presumed exposure to herbicides in Vietnam.

The Veteran's headaches are rated at 10 percent, and his residuals of prostate cancer are rated at 20 percent prior to November 2, 2015, and 40 percent as of that date. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for a higher rating in any issue.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for a Statement of the Case (SOC) on several issues.

The Board has granted service connection for prostate cancer due to Agent Orange exposure in service. The claim for depression is secondary to the established service-connected prostate cancer.

The Board has determined that the appellant was exposed to herbicides during service at Fort Chaffee and has been diagnosed with prostate cancer and type II diabetes mellitus. As these conditions are presumed to be related to herbicide exposure, the appeal for service connection is granted.

The Board finds that the Veteran's cause of death, metastatic prostate cancer, was not caused by his military service or any service-connected disability. The appellant did not provide credible evidence to support her claim that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides in Panama during service.